Humboldt Bay commissioners consider Woodley Island RV park

The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District board will meet tonight to consider moving forward with plans to develop a district-operated recreational vehicle park on Woodley Island.

The commissioners are being asked to approve the preparation and filing of a general plan petition with the city of Eureka for the project -- a move that was put on hold following an Oct. 25 meeting.

During the October meeting, the commissioners heard a presentation by George Williamson of Planwest Partners, Inc., on the Woodley Island RV park preliminary feasibility study.

According to the draft study, the proposed 65-space RV park would be located on Startare Drive, the main access road to Woodley Island. In addition to RV parking, the site would include landscaping, a play area, and a dog area. The preliminary feasibility study estimated the start-up cost at a little over $1 million.

Due to discussion and concerns that arose following the presentation, the commissioners decided to delay a decision until tonight's meeting.

Chief Executive Officer Jack Crider said following the October meeting, a committee was formed and meetings were held to generate community comments about the project. Crider said, based on those comments, modifications were made to the preliminary study, and other facilities. Those include reducing the size of the park by 12 percent, from 65 to 57 spaces; adding a fueling dock at the south end of the marina; and making plans to replace a storage area that would be displaced by park.

Harbor Commissioner Pat Higgins said Wednesday that the creation of an RV park is just one option commissioners are considering to pull the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation out of the red.

"If you look at the history of the district, we have been economically challenged," he said. "When the pulp mill ceased to exist in 2008, we lost a great deal of revenue. This is one means we are exploring to start generating a positive cash flow and build up our reserves."